The statement of the US Embassy is a support to the human rights activists: Artur Sakunts
18:00, September 13, 2013 | News | Freedom of thought, conscience and religion | Local Democracy, Support for civil iniciativesAccording to Artur Sakunts, Chairman of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor, the statement of the US Embassy condemning the attacks against civic activists in Armenia is a means of supporting the human rights defenders in our country, which isn’t the only one.
In a talk with Tert.am, Artur Sakunts recalled that such statements had also been issued over the cases of starting criminal prosecution and applying discrimination against activist Mariam Sukhudyan.
“These are people publicly expressing their opinions, who are subjected to persecutions for staging their civil dispositions”, he told.
It is noteworthy that the statement issued by the US Embassy also read, “The government should ensure that its citizens can exercise their fundamental rights of freedom of assembly, expression, and speech without fear of retribution.”
Artur Sakunts noted that the expressions of the US support are displayed not only by condemning statements but also by incentives in the form of annual prized which are awarded to activists that have manifested civil courage, female activists, judges, and etc.
According to the human rights activist, in those countries where there are EU consulates, the EU has adopted a “recommendation” for its member states through which it can support human right activists within the scope of its direct authorization.